Just played the first season opening credits link on here: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/videoclips/familymatters.mpg

and it has an extended version and a totally different song. "What a Wonderful World" is what it is... what the?

(You'll have to forgive me, I didn't start watching FM til about 1996)

Originally posted by Brent88
Just played the first season opening credits link on here: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/videoclips/familymatters.mpg

and it has an extended version and a totally different song. "What a Wonderful World" is what it is... what the?

(You'll have to forgive me, I didn't start watching FM til about 1996)

That's the theme they used originally for the first few episodes on ABC. I'd be REALLY surprised if ABC Family airs it. Though, I think they'll air the full themes to the theme we are use to seeing. ABC Family is good on showing the full themes, like for Step by Step's early extended theme.

Good, because I like the more common theme anyway...

Oh I found out about the theme on TV Tome:

The original theme song to the show was "It's a Wonderful World" performed by Ray Charles. The theme could be heard for the first four episodes and a longer opening including the family riding bikes. It was decided that the song was too calm for the series and the Jesse Frederick theme song that is longer, however it is rarely heard in syndication. The full version can be found on the Television Greatest Hits Volume 7.

Originally posted by Brent88
Oh I found out about the theme on TV Tome:

The original theme song to the show was "It's a Wonderful World" performed by Ray Charles.

So I guess three theme songs were used? The mpg theme courtesy of Brent88 ("What A Wonderful World" by the late Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong), "It's A Wonderful World" by Ray Charles, and the more popular "Days Go By" by Jesse Frederick?

I think it's just two. The "What a Wonderful World" by Ray Charles is the same one I am referring too, I was just getting the title from listening to the song and it sounds very similar to the same one by Ray Charles.

Confusing...:rolleyes:

Louis Armstrong sang "What A Wonderful World" period. They could have gotten Ray Charles to re-record it for the show to avoid royalty payments to the record company or and the Armstrong Estate. Then switched to the more upbeat theme they ended up with.

Louis Armstong sang the one they used for Family Matters. You can hear it here http://www.sitcomsonline.com/sounds/familymatterslouisarmstrong.wav

You're Right, The theme song was "As Days Go By" By Jesse Frederick.

Brent88:

That's what I remember! I don't remember hearing Ray Charles! Thanks for clearing that up.

Sometimes, sitcoms want to use "classic" songs as their themes, but you have to understand the financial issues involved. There are TWO different kinds of costs--one for the rights to the song, and yet another for the rights to the PERFORMANCE by a famous singer/star. For a PILOT episode, all bets are off--you have to SELL the show, and if you think that Satchmo himself will help give the show that extra "oomph"--well, you go for it. But the cost of playing THAT song every week with the royalties for the performance is HUGE...and the problem with doing, for example, a "cover" version with another unknown/cheaper singer is that the song is SO identified with Armstrong that, well, it just isn't the same without him.

Sometimes there are other problems. Before doing Family Matters, I worked on "The Marshall Chronicles"--a short-lived series about a sort of teen-aged woody-allen-esque kid in NYC. The producers used a song by Randy Newman called "Fallin' in Love" as the theme for the pilot, but didn't want the expense of the Randy Newman version for the ongoing series. Well, they had a problem--the opening credits had a VERY complicated graphics process where our hero, Marshall, steps into one of our standard sets--a NYC Subway Car, and sits by a window as the letters forming the names of the titles swirl into and out of frame behind him in the flickering subway tunnell lights outside the window.
This was a bit before today's sophisticated CGI computerized graphics, and they had timed the sequence to the Randy Newman song....and after trying THREE Different non-star singers doing cover versions, they could never get the timing exactly right, and it was cheaper to buy the SONG than re-do the credits!

Unfortunately the show lasted about 9 episodes--good show, too--and you can hear the song at its listing on this site. So much for themesong issues and sitcoms. Nowadays, it seems that TV themes are becoming extinct, especially in the case of closing credits since they are usually reduced and an ad for the next show or a local news promo runs then instead.

Originally posted by Brent88
Louis Armstong sang the one they used for Family Matters. You can hear it here http://www.sitcomsonline.com/sounds/familymatterslouisarmstrong.wav

I love that song. I have that on CD and I heard that song on the radio at one time. I also have that version by Joey Ramone from the "Freaky Friday" soundtrack which is a remake but not to be confused as the theme used in the "Family Matters" pilot. I found this link from Joey Ramone's site, and here is that remake.
http://www.joeyramone.com/wonder.ram

Originally posted by James
So I guess three theme songs were used? The mpg theme courtesy of Brent88 ("What A Wonderful World" by the late Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong), "It's A Wonderful World" by Ray Charles, and the more popular "Days Go By" by Jesse Frederick?

Jesse Frederick also did sang the "Full House" theme "Everywhere You Look".